Rumors spread by irresponsible people: Hartono
Rumors spread by irresponsible people: Hartono
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information R. Hartono said
yesterday rumors about the death of the country's richest tycoon
Soedono Salim on Friday, which sparked a huge rush on his Bank
Central Asia (BCA), were spread by irresponsible people seeking
to disrupt national stability.
The minister said he expected the national press, including
the print and electronic media, to take into account their
"social responsibility" before publishing any news, especially on
sensitive issues.
He said his ministry would work closely with other government
agencies to stop irresponsible rumors.
"It is ordinary people who suffer the most from the rumors (on
Salim's death)... We must stay alert to this trend," Hartono
said before chairing a session of the People's Consultative
Assembly's working committee yesterday.
Separately, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wiranto said yesterday
the best way to restore public confidence in the government was
by providing a comprehensive explanation when rumors spread in
society.
"As long as the explanation fails to satisfy them, they will
continue to be confused. Therefore, it is important to give them
accurate and widespread information," Wiranto said.
BCA depositors rushed the bank branches and automated teller
machines (ATMs) in Jakarta and Medan, North Sumatra, Friday after
they heard a rumor that the government had decided to liquidate
the bank.
The government decided to close 16 private banks on Nov. 1 as
part of its efforts to salvage the ailing economy.
Depositors panicked after they heard a rumor that Salim, also
known as Liem Sioe Liong, had died. Liem Sioe Liong is the
founder and chairman of the giant Salim Group.
"The rumor was coincidentally related with money which easily
triggered panic because people wanted to get their money back,"
Wiranto noted.
The Salim Group is BCA's majority shareholder. Other owners
include President Soeharto's daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana and
son Sigit Harjojudanto.
Liem's appearance on TV Friday night helped assure depositors,
although they still flocked to bank branches Saturday.
"We are all obliged, not only the Armed Forces (ABRI), to
anticipate all possible rumors in the future because they may
cause public anxiety," Wiranto said.
Hartono, Wiranto's predecessor, reminded the press about its
obligations to maintain national stability and not just think
about their own interests.
"Why did you instantly believe such rumors? The logic is
simple... it is impossible such a bad thing (liquidation) would
happen with a big bank like BCA," Hartono said.
Separately, Deputy House Speaker Syarwan Hamid suggested that
the government set up a media center to dispatch information to
the public. He said this would counter rumors as soon as
possible.
"The important thing to stop rumors is to give the public
clear information backed by authentic data," Syarwan told
journalists.
He suggested that some people might have started the rumors
about Salim's death to test national stability prior to the
general session of the People's Consultative Assembly next March.
A legal expert, Muladi, said disseminating rumors is a crime
which carries a penalty of up to five years imprisonment,
according to the Criminal Code.
"But it's very difficult to chase down the criminal, not to
mention to collect the evidence," said Muladi, who is also a
member of the Assembly. (amd/prb)